Face Reality (Research - Blake, Leon/GM)

[Bailey Oleander]

"Alright. Let's keep track on this one, please. If there are sudden energy spikes, or anything else unusual, let me know," she advised the others who brought in the container. Just to be safe, she'd run a final scan.

[Zack Asiv]

Nothing seems different from her last scan, but everyone acknowledges the warning!

[Bailey Oleander]

That's fine, since it gives Bailey's heart a chance to stop slamming against her sternum! Taking a deep breath, she stepped outside of the lab, taking in fresh air and finding a place to just...sit and relax. At home.

She'd open up her uncle's article she saved on her PT, taking a chance to look for cross reference words that would match up with her findings. CHaos was obvious, parasites came to mind, as did evolving ki, hosts...

It was something for the moment.

[Zack Asiv]

Hosts got a hit.

"While it is theoretically possible Sentient Qi can latch onto a host becoming more of a symbiotic entity, there is also anomalous Qi structures that act much the same way. A mutation from a change in the Qi users persona can cause a shift in power, evolving it sometimes into physical changes. Commonly we see, spines, bones, spikes, masks, wings, and many other mutations with their own unique properties. All however share in a single property. Wearing them, or removing them, causes a massive power increase."

[Bailey Oleander]

She paused to read over the information that came up with the search, noting how several different things were listed, including masks like her own. A change in personality. Bailey made a face and sighed. It applied, she supposed. Looking back, she could point out things she'd done that disturbed her now, where they hadn't at the time. Before, it had been so natural, such a part of her, she didn't even think about it, let alone wonder. Leaving Rhona to recover on her own after she destroyed the school. Reveling in the chaos of the aftermath of battle. Focusing on things and people far stronger than her, heedless of others.

She thought about how much she wanted to remove the bone-like mask on her face, the testings she'd just done. The increase in power seemed to apply to it most since it fed off of other things. Still, she'd scroll down, looking for any documented examples that might be mentioned, or a table if there is one with the information.

She's curious to see if any are familiar, or if the power increase applied to the host as well as the manifestation of the change.

[Zack Asiv]

Bailey can feel the discomfort in Loki as they read over the information, she would find one example.

"A man who identified himself many years ago as The Burst Dragon, some mercenary group not affiliated with the Dragons of today, had spikes grow out of his right arm. By breaking them off he got boosts of energy, speed, strength, power. However short lived as they burned out, but it was speculated each spine removed had a stronger boon to be obtained. Sadly the mercenary group has since gone underground and thus theory and speculation is all we have from field combat reports dating a few years before the war."

[Bailey Oleander]

Going by that example, Bailey could theoretically do a lot just taking off part of what she’d come to accept as her face at this point. She was fairly certain it would be different in her case. Even still, what she had tried was endurance and damage resilience as opposed to what it could do if she just took it off on her own.

She frowned at the thought, frowning at the fact the man went by the title of a dragon as she sensed Loki’s response.

’What’s wrong?’

[Zack Asiv]

"I have seen similar reports, not of that group or anything just odd happenings, however it was during the war and almost always an experiment."

[Bailey Oleander]

"So then they were altered and it happened? Or the experiments helped make it stronger?" She could feel her stomach churn as the nausea settled in.

"I'm assuming that's why you suggesting giving it a tug."

[Zack Asiv]

"Well I figure you could start pulling it, take some scans, feel the sensations, then stop. I'm not sure if it was because of the experiments or not, if I knew where Mathew was, I'd suggest getting in contact with Barker if you want those answers."

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey snorted a laugh at the explanation. Yes, she'd done that...on the wrong part.

"Fair. Though I suppose it wouldn't be so bad to see how things are going with him, anyway. Especially since the two of you are friends." Given what she had dealt with playing messenger. She paused for a moment at the mention of Barker, still uncomfortable with the man's presence. And yet, he'd gone for the Fleece to try and undo the trigger that could cause the experiments to be so dangerous. Maybe time had changed him.

And in truth, what better person to know about them than the man who helped make them, or some of them. She sighed and shifted her weight to the other foot.

"Back at the vault, he'd advised he would meet with Blake later. I can always see if he found a way to keep in touch."

[Zack Asiv]

She could feel a shrug from Loki.

[Bailey Oleander]

Well that was answer enough. Bailey would continue to mentally converse with Loki as she headed to go find Blake.

"What sort of odd happenings?"

[Zack Asiv]

"Masks, armor, spikes, wings... Markings on the body that grow completely transforming people into odd monster versions of themselves. It was confusing, and I never ran into it so we only had reports and word of mouth. Each report showed the same thing. Weak enemies basically sat up to die against us, and then suddenly we have to retreat because they changed into monsters."

[Bailey Oleander]

In other worse, about the same as she had herself through the paper. The last example was enough to remind Bailey of the monster ability Blake and some of the others who shared his ability. And weak enemies turned strong. She gave a small hum, keeping her thoughts to herself for the time being. Sort of.

"Was there anything else they had in common?"